Ulster net Sharks fly half Pienaar

ULSTER have confirmed that South African fly half Ruan Pienaar will move to Belfast on a two-year contract from his province, the Sharks.

His capture was described by Ulster Rugby Operations Director David Humphreys as a major boost for the Irish side. “Bringing Ruan to Ulster is a massive statement of our ambition to be competing with the top teams in the Magners League and ERC.

“He is one of the most naturally gifted players in world rugby, and having had huge experience at international level with the Springboks, we believe Ruan will help Ulster achieve success over the next couple of seasons,” he said.

Pienaar is regarded as one of the most naturally gifted young players in the world game, but someone who suffered in the early years of his career due to his versatility.

Pienaar has international caps at scrum-half, fullback and fly-half but was unable to force his way into the reckoning for a regular place in any of these positions until 2008. With the Springboks’ World Cup winning fly-half Butch James playing in Europe, Pienaar was handed the No.10 jersey for their autumn tour of the northern hemisphere, turning in assured performances and scoring a charge-down try against Danny Cipriani and England.

Pienaar’s career began with Free State, but he was given precious few opportunities before he made the switch to Durban and the Sharks after being spotted at Craven Week, a tournament for schoolboy players, by Sharks coach Kevin Putt.

The son of former Springbok fullback Gysie Pienaar, he found new levels of success with the Sharks in both the Currie Cup and Super 14 and made his South Africa debut in 2006 against New Zealand during the Tri Nations.

He was a part of the South Africa side that won the World Cup in 2007.&

He will be joining former Springbok and Sharks players, BJ Botha and Johann Muller, in the Ulster squad next season.